The most beautiful monasteries to visit. Unique dream places in Europe that can cut your breath

Romania has many places of worship with a special tradition, history and spirituality. They are the perfect destination for a seasonal hiking.

Many Romanians enjoy free days on Easter, that is, an extended weekend until April 21, inclusive. After the Resurrection, given the special importance of the Easter holidays, a hiking at the monastery can be one of the best options for relaxation and spiritual retreat. Each historical region of Romania has famous places of worship both for the beauty of the landscape, the picturesque and the age of the monastic complexes but especially for their ability to bring peace. We present some of the most well -known and beautiful monasteries, which could be visited by Easter, on greographic areas.

Oltenia below the mountain, a place of authentic spirituality

For those who live in the south of the country, in the old Wallachia, the best option for a trip is Vâlcea county, known as the county with most monasteries in Romania included in the national cultural heritage. In particular, the region known as Oltenia under the mountain, a UNESCO geoparc. At the top of the most beautiful monasteries in Vâlcea are the Cozia Monastery, the Horezu Monastery and the Arnota Monastery. There are monasteries that offer both dream landscapes and an important history lesson. We are not talking about the special spirituality of places.

The Cozia Monastery is located in the city of Călimănești, about two and a half hours Bucharest. It is located on one of the most transited roads in Romania, the one that connects Oltenia to Transylvania, so it is very accessible, both for the mountain and Olteni, but also for the Transylvanians in the Sibiu area, for example. The Cozia Monastery is a foundation of the ruler Mircea cel Bătrân and was erected in 1388. The tomb of the well -known voivode is also in Cozia. In the Middle Ages it was a powerful cultural center, here operating the first school and copies school in the Romanian Country. Cozia is located in the northern area of ​​the Căciulata spa resort and a kilometers from the Olt gorge, the longest in Romania. So it is the right place for a good trip.

The Horezu Monastery, located in three Valcea monasteries, is protected by UNESCO and unique at national level. It is located in the town of Romanii de Jos, in the Horezu mountain resort, three hours from Bucharest. The Horezu Monastery is founded by the ruler Constantin Brâncoveanu and was built between 1690-1697. Here is the only genealogical fresco of the Brâncoveanu and Cantacuzino families, painted on the wall of the church in the center of the monastic complex, which includes no less than six bisiric. In the eighteenth century, the monastery had a huge, unique library in Southeast Europe and Brâncoveanu wanted to make a national library. The Horezu Monastery was one of Queen Mary’s favorites.

Not far from Horezu is also Taborul Vâlcii, an impressive area with rock churches and dream landscapes. The most important in the area is the Bistrița Monastery, from the village of the same name, Costești commune, located about three hours from Bucharest. The Bistrita Monastery was founded by the Craiovești boyars at the end of the fifteenth century. The monastery had a troubled history being destroyed by Mihnea Voda and then restored. In this monastery, the relics of Saint Grigore are also preserved, but it is also known for the fact that they have spent times to restore Arsenie Boca but also Archbishop Bartolomeu Anania. Not far from the monastery is the cave of Saint Gregory the Decapolite or the Liliecilor Cave. In the same cave are two unique rock monasteries in the country. 5 kilometers from Bistrița is Arnotota, another pearl of monasticism in Vâlcea. Also in the area of ​​Oltenia, the Polovragi monastery in Gorj County should not be missed.

The country of painted monasteries, another natural paradise of Romania

For those living in Moldova, a Pascal tourist destination, a tour of the monasteries can be done especially in Bucovina. These are generally grouped in the Vicov-Rădău-Câmpulung Moldovenesc area. These are the famous voivodal founders of the rulers of Moldova, the churches painted from impressive monastic complexes. The most famous are Voronet, Sucevița, Moldovița, Putna and Humor. However, the Ștefanian founding of Pătrăuți should not be forgotten, where a votive portrait of the voivode can be seen.

The Moldovița Monastery is located in the commune of Vatra Moldoviței, Suceava county and is the founding of Petru Rareș from 1532. Sucevița, on the other hand, was consecrated in 1586 and is a foundation of the powerful boyar family of Movilești. The monastery is in the commune with the same name in Suceava county. Voronetul, a famous monastery for his blue, but also for the special painting, is located in the village of Voronet, belonging to the city of Gura Humorului, Suceava county. Due to its beauty and importance, the Voronet is nicknamed the “Sistine Chapel of the East.” Not far from Voroneț, in Gura Humorului are the Humor Monastery, foundation of the Logofa Toader Bubuiog from the sixteenth century.

The pearl of the Bucovina monasteries, however, remains the Putna Monastery, a great monastic complex, founded by Stefan cel Mare in 1469. It was always an important cultural and monastic center, surrounded by legend and a magnificent nature. It is positioned in the village of Putna, near Vicovu de Jos, Suceava county. Nearby is the cell of Daniil Sihastrul, in a natural dream setting. Bucovina offers besides the beauty of historical monasteries and vestiges, a special gastronomy, dream landscapes but also a special expression of folk art.

If you still stay in Moldova, we must not miss the monasteries in Neamț county. In particular, the monastery of Neamț, founded of the voivode Petru I Muşat but neither the “Athos” of Neamț, with the Sihăstria monasteries, Petru Voda and Sihla, famous for the great spirituals who needed there, including Ilie Cleopa, canonized. It does not break a visit to Agapia and Văratec two monasteries of nuns, of the 17th-century very beautiful. As in the case of Bucovina, besides the monasteries, the famous fortress of Neamt can be visited but walks in nature can be taken.

In Iasi county, remaining on Moldavian plains, the historical monasteries, true pearls of past and monasticism should not be missed. These are Hadâmbu, Bârnova and Galata, founded in the 16th-16th centuries. Hadâmbu is 30 kilometers from Iasi, in Mironeasa commune. Bârnova is in a natural paradise 12 kilometers from Iasi, and Galata, founded by Petru Șchiopul is located in the municipality of Iași. If the extreme North tempts us, Botosaniul is the best option. In Vorona commune, two story monasteries can be discovered in a dream landscape, but also the Chilia of Cuviosul Onufrie, after an initiatory road through the forest. The Coșula Monastery, a medieval foundation of the Mateiaș Vistiernic in the sixteenth century should not be missed, with its famous “yellow basket”. On the outskirts of Botoșani are the Popăuți Monastery, foundation of Stefan cel Mare.

Maramureșul spirituality torn down in wood

Maramureș is another historical area famous for its unique monasteries in Europe. The specialists say that in Maramureș no church resembles each other, being unique in their own way. The pearl of the monastery crown of Maramureș is undoubtedly the Bârsana Monastery, included in the UNESCO heritage. Bârsana is in the commune of the same name and was built in 1711 by the noble priest Ioan Stefanca. The complex houses no less than eight wooden churches, including the old church, from the seventeenth century. The Bârsana Monastery represents not only a historical monument of invaluable value, but also a place of Maramureş spirituality, a place where people keep the old unaltered traditions.

Also in Maramureș is the Săpânța Peri Monastery, the highest wood construction in Europe. It was established in 1997, on the outskirts of Săpânța, to remember an old wooden church, from Maramureșul Medival, from the neighboring town of Peri. The opportunity to visit the Merry Cemetery in Săpânța in the area and also included in the UNESCO heritage should not be missed. You do not have to leave Maramureș without a visit to Botiza, in the village of the same name. The wooden church in Botiza was built in 1699 in Vișeul de Jos, foundation of the noble Ștefan Pop, but was transferred in 1899 to Botiza on the site of another 16th century wooden church. In addition to the beauty of the wooden churches, in Maramureș you can enjoy the guarantee of absolutely charming landscapes, the joy of people but also the richness of traditions. Neither local gastronomy, nor the famous pale, should be missed.

The pilgrimage centers of Transylvania

In the area of ​​Transylvania, three very important places of worship should not be missed. This is the Nicula Monastery in Cluj County. It is one of the most important pilgrimage centers in Romania, especially the Greek-Catholic rite. The origin of the monastic complex dates from the seventeenth century and in the main church there is an icon painted by the famous craftsman Luca in Iclod. It is considered a miracle -making icon that would have been tears for almost 30 days, in 1699. This monastery was an important iconic craft center, by one debuted the technique of glass painting. Even more famous is the Prislop Monastery, located in the village of Silvașul de Sus, Hunedoara. Due to the fact that here is the tomb of Arsenie Boca, the monastery has become an important pilgrimage place with hundreds of thousands of tourists annually. The monastery was founded in the sixteenth century by Miss Zamfira, the daughter of Moses Voda in the Romanian Country.

From the eighteenth century and until 1948, the monastery was passed to the Greek-Catholic rite. He later returned to the Orthodox rite. In the area, the landscape is impressive, especially since the monastery is in a meadow at 640 meters altitude. In Transylvania, no monastery should be missed on Saturday, the foundation of Brancovians at the end of the seventeenth century. The monastery is located in the locality with the same name in Brașov county, in a dream location, at the foot of the Făgăraș Mountains. The wall of the wall, made by the care of the ruler Constantin Brâncoveanu, is a true pearl of the Brancovian architecture. The monastery had a troubled history but remained famous by the fact that here it led a monastic life and Arsenie Boca.